Post hole digging machine



May 8, 195 G. J. COMEAUX, SR

POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1954 Gi/fordJ. Comeaux, 5k

IN VEN TOR.

May 8, 1956 Filed July 19, 1954 G. J. COMEAUX, SR

POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gi/ford J. C0meaux,$r.

INVENTOR.

By @MdOi-ih.

ovum nay Em United States Patent POST HOLE DIGGlNG MACHINE Gilford J.Comeaux, Sr., Rayne, La.

Application July 19, 1954, Serial No. 444,011 2 Claims. (Cl. 255-19)This invention relates to a portable post hole digger and moreparticularly to a power operated machine especially adapted for use indrilling a post hole.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa machine which may be conveniently moved from one location to anotherby lifting the machine with handles provided therefor and which includesmeans for simply and efiiciently locking the anger in place againstrotation.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a posthole digger having novel and eflicient means for urging the augerdownwardly into the ground and for automatically retracting the augerfrom the post hole after the operation has been completed.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of aportable post hole digger having a novel drive arrangement for providingpower to the auger.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of a portable post hole digger that is strong and durable,simple in construction and operation, highly efiicient in use, andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture thereby permitting widedistribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this portable post hole digger, a preferredembodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings,by way of example only wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portable post hole digger;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along the planeof line 22 of Figure l and illustrating the construction of the drivemeans and of the auger in detail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view as taken along the plane of line 33 inFigure 1 illustrating the connection between the lever and the standard;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line4-4 in Figure 1 and illustrating the construction of the wheel mountingarrangement; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line5-5 in Figure l and illustrating the construction of the bracket formingthe swivel for the vertical shaft.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral is used to generally designate the post hole diggercomprising the present invention which includes a platform 12 mounted onand supported by a stand 14 and wheels 16 and 18 which are supported bysubstantially L-shaped supports 20 terminating in stub shafts 22. Bracesas at 24 may be used to rigidify the entire construction and a pair ofhandles 26 and 28'extend outwardly from the platform 12 so that theentire frame formed by the platform 12 and its associated elements maybe moved 2,744,726 Patented May 8, 1956 from one location to another inthe manner of a wheelbarrow.

Mounted on the platform 12 is a gasoline motor 30 or any other suitableprime mover such as an electric motor if such is desired. The gasolinemotor 30 drives by means of a belt 32 a pulley 34 which has a driveshaft 36 secured thereto, the drive shaft 36 being journalled in bearing38 secured to the table 12. Of course, as may be desired, a suitablegrease fitting 40 may be provided for the bearing 38, and the collar 42is held on the shaft 36 by means of a set screw 44, the collar 42 thusacting as a thrust bear- Attached to the shaft 36 is a worm gear 46which engages a ring gear 48 which, as can be best seen in Figure 2, hasits hub 50 rotatably mounted on the platform 12 and held in place by abearing assembly 52 and a collar 54 which is held in place on the hub'50by means of a set screw 56.

The ring gear 48 preferably has a substantially square aperture 58therethrough for reception of a square shaped vertical shaft 60. Anauger 62 of any conventional construction may be detachably secured asat 64 to the lower end of the square vertical shaft 60. The shaftextends upwardly and has its upper end provided with a portion 66 ofreduced cross sectional area and is further provided-with a flange 68thereon. Rotatably received over the portion 66 of the shaft 60, theportion 66 being circular in cross section, is a bracket 70 which hasbifurcations 72 and 74 extending upwardly and apertured for reception ofa bolt 76, the bolt also extending through a lever 78. The end portion66 of the shaft 60 may be threaded for reception of a nut which inconjunction with a collar 82 is utilized to hold the bracket 70 inposition. Hence, the bracket 70 can swivel with respect to the shaft 60but may be locked in place by lock pin or bolt 84 when it is desired totransport the portable post hole digging machine from one location toanother without rotation of the auger 62.

A fitting 86 is welded or otherwise attached to the platform 12 andthreadedly received therein is a standard 88 which of course may beremoved from the internally threaded socket formed by the fitting 86.The standard 88 has an arcuately curved upper portion 90 adapted to havethe end thereof overlie the shaft 60 and the bracket 70. A pair ofplates 92 and 94 are welded or otherwise attached to the standard 88 andhave slots 96 and 98 therein for reception of a bolt 100 which extendstherethrough and are used to adjustably pivotally attach the end of thelever 78 relative to the standard 88. A coil spring 102 is terminallysecured to an eye 104 on the upper portion 90 of the standard 88 and toan eye 106 or the like attached to the central-portion of the lever 78immediately adjacent the bracket 70.

In operation, the motor 30 will drive the belt 32 which is of courseguarded by a shield 108 as may be desired so that the drive shaft 36will cause the worm gear 46 to drive the ring gear 48 to rotate theshaft 60 and hence the auger 62. Depression of the lever 78 will causethe auger 62 to enter the ground and the auger will lift such earth ashas been dug upwardly from the ground. After the post hole has been dug,the lever 78 can merely be released and the spring 102 which has beenunder tension will raise the lever 78, the shaft 60 and the auger 62.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable post hole digger comprising a wheeled frame including aplatform, a motor mounted on said platform, a drive shaft driven by saidmotor journall'ed on said platform, a Worm gear driven by said driveshaft, 21 ring gear journalled in said platform,. said worm geardrivingly engaging said ring gear, a vertical shaft drivingly engaged bysaid ring gear extending through said ring gear, an anger on the lowerend of said vertical shaft, a standard secured to said platform, abracket rotatably secured on said vertical shaft, a lever pivotallyattached to said standard and said bracket for raising and lowering saidvertical shaft independent of rotation of said shaft, said standardhaving an arcuate upper end portion overlying said bracket, and a springterminally secured to said upper end portion of said standard and tosaid lever, said spring being placed in tension upon lowering of saidvertical shaft and said anger, the energy stored in said spring when intension serving to raise said vertical shaft and said auger upon releaseof said lever.

2. A portable post hole digger comprising a wheeled frame including aplatform, a motor mounted on said platform, a drive shaft driven by saidmotor journalled on said platform, a worm gear driven by said driveshaft, a ring' gear journalled in said platform, said worm geardrivingly engaging said ring gear, a vertical shaft drivingly engaged bysaid ring gear extending through said ring gear, an auger on the lowerend of said vertical shaft, a standard secured to said platform, abracket rotatably secured on said vertical shaft, a lever pivotallyattached to said standard and said bracket for raising and lowering saidvertical shaft independent of rotation of said shaft, said ring gearhaving a square aperture therethrough, said vertical shaft being squarein cross section, said standard having an arcuate upper end portionoverlying said bracket, and a spring terminally secured to said upperend portion of said standard and to said lever, said spring being placedin tension upon lowering of said vertical shaft and said anger, theenergy stored in said spring when in tension serving to raise saidvertical shaft and said auger upon release of said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS269,410 Graham et al Dec. 19, 1882 2,403,041 Beyerink July 2, 19462,534,628 Shacklette Dec. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 209,134 Germany Apr.22, 1909 518,056 Germany Feb. 11, 1931

